Wedding-singer priest makes splash on Internet

April 10, 2014

An Irish priest has become a social-media sensation after he surprised a bride and groom by singing a custom-made cover of Leonard Cohen's "Hallelujah" at their wedding.

Video of the Rev. Ray Kelly's altar-side performance has shot to the top of YouTube in Ireland with more than 240,000 viewings since it was posted Monday following the weekend nuptials of Chris and Leah O'Kane.

The parish priest in the town of Oldcastle, northwest of Dublin, started his version with the words: "We join together here today, to help two people on their way, as Leah and Chris start their life together."

Kelly wins laughter midway as he raises his eyebrows at the stunned couple, and offers a playful wink at the end.